Opus has partnered with Always Food Safe (AFS) to offer ANSI-accredited Food Handlers and Food Manager Certification training for the food service industry. Always Food Safe is a specialist web-based e-learning provider that offers fully video-based online training. They are accepted by State & Local Health Inspectors and their training aligns with Opus' interactive, media-rich, and engaging training platform.
đĄ State requirements: Acceptance varies by state and county. Check Always Food Safe's State Submission Guidelines before you assign either certification.
| Food Handlers Certificate | Food Manager Certificate |
Pricing | 1 credit per assignment | 10 credits per assignment |
Time to Completion | About 2.5 hours | About 4 to 8 hours for the Module, plus a 2-hour timed exam |
Exam Requirements | Online exam, 75% minimum passing score, 2 free exam attempts | Online exam, overseen by an internal proctor, 2 free exam attempts |
Certificate Valid For | 3 years | 5 years |
Credits are deducted when a Trainee starts the training, not when you assign it.
Table of Contents:
Food Handlers Certification
The Food Handlers certification is designed for your hourly team members (non-supervisors) and consists of one Module and an exam. It costs one credit per assignment, which includes the Module and the exam, and the certificate is valid for 3 years.
This certification is encouraged and accepted in all states except for:
Alaska, Riverside County and San Bernardino County in California, Leavenworth in Kansas, Fayette County (Lexington) in Kansas, Lancaster County (City of Lincoln) and Lincoln County in Nebraska, Clark County in Nevada, New York, Cleveland County and Tulsas County in Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington State
Once a Trainee completes the Module in Opus, they take the Food Handlers exam in the AFS portal. They'll need an AFS account to receive the certificate. The minimum passing score is 75%.
Important to Note: If a Trainee fails both exam attempts, they will need to wait 90 days before they can be reassigned the training and exam. This is an ANSI/ANAB regulation.
Food Manager Certification
The Food Manager certification is designed for supervisors and front- and back-of-house leads and consists of one Module and an exam. According to FDA code, having a Certified Food Protection Manager (obtained by completing Food Manager) is a requirement for all restaurants in all states. The certificate is valid for 5 years.
Always Food Safe's Food Manager Certification is accepted across all 50 states, except for:
New York City Areas: Bronx County, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York County (Manhattan), Queens County, Richmond County (Staten Island)
Once a Trainee completes the Module in Opus, they sign up for the Food Manager exam in the AFS portal. An internal proctor from your team must oversee the exam through AFS.
đĄ Study materials: Email support@opus.so to receive additional study materials for the Food Manager exam.
âĄď¸ Learn more:
Food Manager Certification Requirement - Appointing an Internal Proctor in Always Food Safe: how to appoint someone on your team as an internal proctor.
How to Take the Food Handlers & Food Manager Exams
Unlike other compliance training in Opus, the exam for the Food Handlers and Food Manager Modules is completed in the AFS portal. Opus marks the Trainee as compliant once AFS reports a passing result.
How it Works
In the dashboard: Once the Trainee completes the Module, their My Training page shows a Certification exams card that says "Training complete. Your certification exam is ready." They click Start exam to open the exam in a new tab.
In the Opus Training app: Their home screen shows a Take your [training name] Exam card. They tap it to open the exam.
Until they pass: Both cards stay in place until AFS reports a passing result.
Before the exam opens: If their Opus profile has no email address, they're asked to enter one. The first time they open the exam link, they may see a page that says "You are ready to take your food handler exam." They click Start exam to continue to the AFS portal.
In the AFS portal: They create an AFS account. This account is essential because AFS issues the certificate, not Opus.
For the Food Handlers exam, Trainees can begin the exam right away, without a proctor.
For the Food Manager exam, Managers coordinate a testing date and time so the appointed internal proctor can administer and oversee the exam session.
Tips to remember
Open the exam from the Start exam link Opus gives you. The link is unique to each team member and connects your AFS account to your Opus training.
When creating an AFS account, use the email address associated with your Opus account.
After registering on the AFS site, save your login details if you plan to come back and take the exam later.
On the day of the Food Manager exam, both the examinee and the proctor must log in to www.alwaysfoodsafe.com/learn before the exam can be launched. For step-by-step instructions, see Always Food Safe's Proctoring an Exam guide.